SHB 1015
In CommitteeHouse
Energy labeling/residential
Concerning energy labeling of residential buildings.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill allows Washington cities and counties to require energy performance reports for existing single-family homes before they are listed for sale. The goal is to help homebuyers understand a home’s energy use and emissions, encouraging energy-efficient upgrades and supporting the state’s climate goals. Low-income sellers are protected through required cost analyses and financial assistance programs.
- Cities and counties may require a home energy performance report for single-family homes before the property can be publicly advertised for sale.
- Before requiring the report, cities and counties must analyze financial impacts on low-income sellers and create programs (e.g., subsidies) to offset audit costs for those sellers.
- The report must include a home energy score (using the U.S. Department of Energy’s model), estimated annual energy use and costs by fuel type, estimated greenhouse gas emissions, and recommendations for energy efficiency improvements.
- Reports must be prepared by certified home energy auditors using a standardized format developed by the Washington State Department of Commerce.
- The Department of Commerce must develop and maintain the standardized report format by November 30, 2025.
Who is affected
- Sellers of existing single-family homes — Homeowners selling single-family homes in cities or counties that adopt the requirement must obtain and provide a home energy performance report before advertising their home for sale; low-income sellers may be eligible for financial assistance to cover audit costs.
- Homebuyers — Potential homebuyers will receive standardized information about a home’s energy use, efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions, helping them compare homes and make more informed purchasing decisions.
- Cities and counties that adopt the requirement — Must conduct cost-impact analyses and design programs (e.g., subsidies) to help low-income sellers afford energy audits before requiring them.
- Home energy auditors — Must be certified through a U.S. Department of Energy-approved program and follow a standardized reporting format to conduct home energy audits.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Requires cities/counts to design mitigation programs (e.g., subsidies) for low-income sellers — if fully funded and implemented, this could reduce financial barriers to participation and prevent displacement of vulnerable homeowners in high-cost areas.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)Standardized disclosure of energy use, emissions, and improvement recommendations — with comparison benchmarks — gives buyers actionable data to prioritize efficiency, potentially accelerating retrofits and reducing state-wide emissions over time.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(a), Sec. 2(4)(f), Sec. 2(4)(g)Provides homebuyers with transparent, standardized energy cost estimates — enabling better long-term budgeting and potentially reducing buyer surprise from high utility bills, especially for first-time or low-income buyers.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)(b), Sec. 2(4)(c)Creates a uniform report format by Commerce Department — reducing inconsistency across jurisdictions and lowering compliance costs for real estate professionals operating across multiple cities/counts.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 3May stimulate demand for certified home energy auditors and efficiency contractors — creating new local jobs in green home services, though benefits will likely accrue to firms with existing DOE certifications rather than small or emerging contractors.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)
Potential Concerns (5)
Mandates that cities and counties conduct cost-impact analyses and design subsidy programs for low-income sellers before implementing the requirement — creating administrative burden and potential delays in rollout, with no state funding to support these local efforts.
FinancialLean industryRef: Sec. 2(3)Adds a new pre-sale requirement that increases transaction costs and complexity for all sellers — especially burdensome for low- and middle-income homeowners who may lack resources to afford audits or make costly efficiency upgrades to improve scores, potentially slowing home sales or depressing resale values in lower-cost markets.
HousingIndustryRef: Sec. 2(1), Sec. 2(3)Requires energy cost estimates based on *current* utility rates, which may become outdated quickly due to rate changes or market volatility — potentially misleading buyers and sellers, and creating liability risks for auditors if rates shift post-report.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 2(4)(c), Sec. 2(4)(f)Creates a new certification requirement for auditors tied to U.S. DOE programs, which may limit local workforce flexibility and raise barriers to entry — benefiting established national certification bodies over local training programs or independent contractors.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 2(5)Shifts implementation costs (cost analyses, subsidy administration, enforcement) to local governments without state funding — potentially diverting resources from other local priorities like housing affordability or infrastructure.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(3)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income sellers face the highest relative burden: they may lack capital to pay for audits or make upgrades to improve scores, potentially delaying sales or reducing net proceeds. While subsidies are required, their availability and accessibility depend on local implementation — many may still be priced out of the market or face longer listing times.
Buyers gain better data to compare homes and estimate long-term costs, especially benefiting first-time, fixed-income, or climate-conscious buyers. However, if energy scores depress home values in older neighborhoods, this could reduce equity for existing homeowners.
Cities/counts must invest staff time and money to conduct impact analyses and design subsidy programs — but gain flexibility to tailor requirements to local needs. Wealthier jurisdictions may implement quickly; lower-resource areas may delay or skip adoption.
Certified auditors and green contractors benefit from new demand, but only those with DOE certification (often tied to larger firms or national programs) will be eligible — small local businesses may struggle to meet certification requirements or compete on price.
State agencies (Commerce, Ecology) gain authority over standardized reporting and climate data, but face implementation costs. The state benefits from improved emissions tracking and progress toward climate goals, though the bill does not enforce adoption — impact depends on local uptake.